Norwegian diplomat criticizes US report on Adani Group, labels it “American overreach”
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Former UN Environment Programme Executive Director and Norwegian diplomat Erik Solheim has raised concerns about what he termed as "American overreach" in the case involving allegations against the Adani Group.
The accusations, made in a US government report, claim that individuals linked to the conglomerate discussed bribes to secure solar energy contracts in India.
However, Solheim criticized the report for lacking substantial evidence and accused the US of interfering in India's economic and green energy growth.
Highlighting the absence of evidence of bribe payments or involvement of senior Adani executives, Solheim questioned the legitimacy of the allegations. “When will American overreach stop? The global media is filled with stories about an indictment against the Adani Group by an American prosecutor. It’s time to ask if such interference is acceptable," he posted on X.
He further argued that if an Indian court indicted American business leaders for actions in the US, it would provoke significant backlash. Solheim stressed that no evidence implicates top Adani leaders, Gautam and Sagar Adani, and the accusations are based only on claims of "promised or discussed" bribes.
Solheim expressed concerns over the broader consequences of such accusations, stating that they divert the Adani Group’s resources toward legal battles instead of advancing critical renewable energy projects. “This kind of overreach disrupts one of India's major economic powerhouses and hinders its transition to green energy," he said.
Senior lawyer and former Indian MP Mahesh Jethmalani also dismissed the US report, calling it "politically motivated." He accused elements within the US administration of using its judiciary to destabilize India. "The indictment offers no evidence of bribery in India nor implicates any top Adani executives. This is purely political noise," Jethmalani remarked.
The Adani Group rejected the allegations as unfounded. In a statement, the conglomerate clarified that no directors or listed companies under its umbrella were accused of wrongdoing. The claims, it emphasized, rest on speculative discussions without evidence of execution.
